Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Shepherdia

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Higher classification
  
Order
  
Scientific name
  
Shepherdia

Rank
  
Genus

Shepherdia httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen882She

Lower classifications
  
Shepherdia argentea, Shepherdia canadensis

Shepherdia, commonly called buffaloberry or bullberry, is a genus of small shrubs in the Elaeagnaceae family. The plants are native to northern and western North America. They are non-legume nitrogen fixers.

Contents

Shepherdia Shepherdia argentea Wikipedia

Species

The genus has three species:

Shepherdia Shepherdia Canadensis

  • Shepherdia argentea — silver buffaloberry
  • Shepherdia canadensis — Canada buffaloberry
  • Shepherdia rotundifolia — roundleaf buffaloberry, endemic to southern Utah and northern Arizona
  • Fruit

    Shepherdia Shepherdia

    The berry is recognizable by being a dark shade of red, with little white dots on them. They are rough to the touch, and are found on both trees and shrubs.

    Wildlife

    The plants have rather bitter-tasting berries. The fruit are often eaten by bears, which by legend, prefer the berries to maintain fat stores during hibernation.

    Shepherdia FileShepherdia argentea Matt Lavin 010jpg Wikimedia Commons

    Buffaloberries are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the engrailed moth (recorded from S. canadensis) and Coleophora elaeagnisella.

    Culinary

    Buffaloberries are edible by humans. They are quite sour, and afterwards leave the mouth a little dry. A touch of frost sweetens the berries. They can be made into jelly, jam, or syrup, soups, or prepared like cranberry sauce from berries.

    References

    Shepherdia Wikipedia